Awning frame



B. A. PETERSON 2,511,294

AWNING FRAME June 13, 1950 Filed May 28, 1946 III! JNVEN TOR. B. A. PETERSON 2 ATTORNEY Patented June 13, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE '7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in awnings and'particularly to collapsible or foldable frames or supports and constitutes an improvement on the structure disclosed in my Patent Number 2,061,207, issued November 1'7, 1936, for Arm for awning frames.

The structure disclosed in the prior patent has met with a high degree of commercial success and has been widely applied to various types of buildings. In installing awnings constructed according to my previous patent, however, I have found that certain frame parts have to be varied in length and in location of connection with other parts in order to accommodatethe awnings to different sizes and shapes of window openings in buildings.

This has resulted in considerable additional trouble and expense since it requires that the awning frames be custom made to a limited extent. In order to do this the window openings must be accurately measured before the frames are made and the frames then made to accommodate the various window opening dimensions and in some manner related to the window openings for which they are made as by applying corresponding numbers to the awnings and window openings. This results in an unavoidable amount of confusion on the job with consequent loss of time and efficiency and precludes the building up of a large stock of prefabricated awnings from which orders may be quickly and expeditiously filled.

The present alternative to custom. production of the awnings at the factory, is to make or modify various parts of the frames on the installation job. This has not proved to be a satisfactory solution as the window openings must still be accurately measured and the frames kept in proper order with relationship to the various openings. It is also more difficult and time consuming to make or modify the parts on the installation job, as the most efficient tools and working space for the purpose are not available and any time spent by the installation crews in making or modifying and assemblying the frames detracts from their efficiency in installing the awnings on the building.

It is therefore among the objects of the present invention to provide an improved awning frame which is fully adjustable to various dimensions of Window openings within wide limits and. may be quickly and easily adjusted to the size of the window opening after it has been installed on the building and thus does not require preliminary measurement of the window openings, the maintaining of the frames in definite order relative to the various window openings or the manufacture or modification of any of the parts on the installation job.

A further object resides in the provision of an improved adjustable awning frame which may be easily and quickly adjusted to compensate for variations in the size of window openings and which may be securely locked in adjusted position.

A still further object resides in the provision of an awning frame in which some of the parts are covered and concealed by other parts when the awning is raised or retracted, and the provision of means rendering the concealed parts adjustable, such adjusting means being also fully concealed when the awning is raised or retracted.

An additional object resides in the provision of an improved awning frame having means providing adjustment of certain parts to accommodate the frame to window openings of varying sizes, said frame being rendered adjustable without materially increasing the cost thereof.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as'the description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. i is a sectional view of a fragmentary portion of a building wall showing an awning structure illustrative of the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2, a sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a longitudinal sectional view of a fragmentray portion of the main awning arm, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4, a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5, a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the outer end portion of the awning arm shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 an elevational view of the lower end portion of the building attached slide for the inner end of the awning arm;

Fig. 7, a detailed view on an enlarged scale of a fragmentary portion of an adjustable supporting link for the awning arm; and

Fig. 8, an end elevational view of the brace shown in Fig. '7.

With continued reference to the drawings and praticularly to Fig. l, the building wall [D in which the window opening is provided is recessed immediately above the window opening, as indicated at H, to receive a drum or ro1ler [2 upon which the fabric awning 13 may be wound when the awning is raised. This recess may be formed by providing a hollow structural member or housing [4 in the building wall immediately above the window transom IS. The roller 12 may be connected by suitable gear and a vertical shaft IS with a hand crank I! located at a convenient position for raising and lowering the awning. An electric or other type of motor may be substituted for the crank I1 without in any way exceeding the scope of the invention.

A pair of vertical guides or slideways, as indicated at id in Fig. l, are mounted one at each side of the window opening between the top and bottom of the opening. Each guide l8 comprises a base portion l9 by means of which the guide is secured to the building wall at the side of the window opening and a slide portion having inwardly directed grooves or flanges for slidably receiving a slide block 2| and restraining the block to vertical movements lengthwise of the guide.

At its lower end the guide member is provided with an outer wall and integral side Walls to form a receptacle 22 which receives the associated guide block 2| and lower end portion of the associated frame arm 23 when the awning is in raised or retracted position, the outer wall of the receptacle being continuous with the arm when in raised position as fully explained in my prior patent referred to above. The bottom of the receptacle 22 may be extended to or below the bottom of the window opening for ornamental effect if desired and may be given any desired ornamental shape.

The associated arm 23 is pivotally connected to the guide block 2| by suitable means such as the pin 24 and is connected at its outer end to a horizontal bar or plate 25 to which the outer edge of the awning strip I3 is connected by suitable means such as the screws 26.

When the awning is in fully retracted position the bar or plate 25 overlies and covers the slot or opening 21 in membe I through which the awning strip extends so that when the awning is retracted the roller containing recess is closed.

The arm 23 is of channel shape in section, as is particularly shown in Fig. 2. with the open side of the channel directed upwardly when the arm is installed and in the position illustrated in Fig. l.

A top pivot block is secured to the building wall immediately above the top of each corresponding guide 20 and to this block is pivotally secured one end of an adjustable link, generally indicated at 3!. The link may comprise two members, namely a tubular member 32 which telescopically receives a rod member 33 which may also be tubular if desired. At its end into which the member 33 extends, tubular member 32 is split and provided with apertured lugs, as indicated at 34, through which a screw 35 extends. By tightening the screw 35, the end portion of member 32 may be tightly clamped about the member 33 to hold the member 33 in any adjusted position relative to the member 32. The members 32 and 33 thus provide a link of adjustable length, the length of which may be properly adjusted and locked in position after the brace is secured to the pivot block 3| and the arm 23 is secured to the slide block 2| and awning strip l3.

At its outer end member 33 is pivotally connected to a slide block 36 which is slidably mounted in a track section 31 secured to the innelside of the web portion of arm 23 between the ends of the arm and constituting a slideway for the block. In the arrangement illustrated in Figs.

2 and 3 the slide block is provided with lateral flanges received in lateral grooves provided by bending over the edge portions of a sheet metal strip which forms the track 31. The track may be secured to the arm 23 by suitable means. such as the screws 38.

Suitable means are provided for locking the slide block 36 in adjusted position along the track 37, the means illustrated comprising a pair of apertured lugs 39 on the slide block 36 receiving between them a locking member, generally indicated at 49, having an eccentric cam portion 4| and a handle 42. The member 40 is pivotally secured to the lugs by a pivot pin 43. When the handle 42 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 3, the lock is released so that the block 36 may be moved along the track 31. When the proper position of the block relative to the arm is attained, the handle 42 is swung over to the left as viewed in Fig. 3, turning the cam downwardly against the bottom of the track and thereby locking the slide block relative to the track.

In installing the improved awning after the awning strip roller i2 is in place with the awning strip attached thereto and to the outer end of the frame arms, and the vertical guides are secured one at each side of the window opening, and the top pivot blocks are also secured one at each side of the window opening; the inner ends of the arms are pivotally secured to the corresponding slide blocks and the upper ends of the corresponding braces are pivotally secured to the top pivot block, and the arms are then brought to the desired horizontal position for the open or extended awning, this being done with the screws 35 loosened and the lock members 40 in released position. The slide blocks 36 in the frame arms are then moved to the proper supporting position and checked to insure that they are in the same relative position in the two frame arms. The members 45 are then moved to locking position and the screws 35 tightened to hold the adjustable parts in their properly adjusted position.

By this means the awning frame may be quickly and easily adjusted to various size window openings and it not only becomes unnecessary to manufacture or modify any part of the frame on the installation job, but a large stock of prefabricated frames may be built up from which orders may be quickly filled and the prefabricated frames readily installed regardless of variations in the size of the window openings.

Various other means may be used for locking the two parts of the brace 31 together and for mounting and locking the slide block 35 without in any way exceeding the scope of the invention.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable, foldable awning frame comprising vertical guides for attachment to a building wall, one at each side of a window opening; slide blocks associated with said guides for movement longitudinally th reof; pivot blocks for attachment to the building wall, one immediately above each vertical guide; channel section arms pivotally connected at one end, one to each slide block; a horizontal member connected to the outer ends of said arms; an adjustable length link member pivotally connected at one end to each pivot block and at its opposite end to a respective arm, the connection between each link and the respective arm comprising a slideway secured in said arm; a slide block movable in said slideway and pivotally connected with the corresponding link, and means operative to lock said block in said slideway.

2. An adjustable, foldable awning frame comprising vertical guides for attachment to a building wall, one at each side of a window opening; pivot blocks for attachment to the building wall, one immediately above each vertical guide; frame arms pivotally and slidably connected at one end, one to each of said vertical guides; a horizontal member connected to the outer ends of said arms; an adjustable length link pivotally connected at one end to each pivot block and slidably and pivotally connected at its opposite end to the corresponding arm; and means for locking each link at a proper length and in proper position relative to the corresponding arm for the size of the corresponding window opening.

3. An adjustable foldable awning frame comprising vertical guides for attachment to a building wall, one at each side of a window opening; pivot blocks for attachment to the building wall one immediately above each vertical guide; frame arms operatively connected to said vertical guides and extending outwardly therefrom; a member connected to the outer ends of the frame members; and adjustable length link members connected between said pivot blocks and the intermediate portions of the corresponding arms.

4. An adjustable, foldable awning frame comprising vertical guides for attachment to a building wall, one at each side of a window opening; frame arms operatively connected to said vertical guides; awning attaching means secured to the outer ends of said arms; and adjustable length link members each pivotally secured at one end to said building wall immediately above the corresponding vertical guide and pivotally secured at its opposite end to the corresponding arm intermediate the length thereof.

5. An adjustable, foldable awning frame comprising vertical guides for attachment to a building wall, one at each side of a window opening; frame arms operatively connected to said vertical guides; awning attaching means secured to the outer ends of said arms; and adjustable length link members each pivotally secured at one end to said building wall immediately above the corresponding vertical guide and pivotally secured at its opposite end to the corresponding arm intermediate the length thereof; the length of said link members and the connections between said link members and said arms being variable in accordance with variations in the size of window openings.

6. An adjustable, foldable awning frame comprising vertical guides for attachment to a building wall, one at each side of a window opening; frame arms operatively connected to said vertical guides; awning attaching means secured to the outer ends of said arms; adjustable length link members each pivotally secured at one end to said building wall immediately above the corresponding vertical guide and adjustably secured at its opposite end to the corresponding arm intermediate the length thereof; and means operative to lock said link members at adjusted length and in adjusted position relative to said arms, said arms being of hollow channel constructio and operative to enclose and conceal the corresponding vertical guides and link members and said looking means when the arms are in raised, awning retracting position.

7. An adjustable, foldable awning frame comprising upright guides for attachment to a building wall, one at each side of a window or other opening, slides associated with said guides for movement longitudinally thereof, pivots for attachment to the building wall one immediately above each upright guide, arms pivotally connected at one end, one to each slide, a bar connected to the outer ends of said arms, a link member adjustable in length having one end pivotally connected to each pivot and its other end adjustably connected to a respective arm, and means for securing the latter end in fixed poistion relative to said arm.

BERGER A. PETERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 617,799 Baird Jan. 17, 1899 848,509 Thoms Mar. 26, 1907 1,386,291 Blarcon Aug. 2, 1921 1,549,037 Williams Aug. 11 1925 2,061,207 Peterson Nov. 17, 1936 

